AMELIA Earhart and Jessica Ennis-Hill are the women who have most inspired others to step out of their comfort zones, according to research.
Research of 2,000 adults found 20 per cent were encouraged to do something new after learning about the amazing feats of Amelia Earhart, who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Research has revealed the women who have most inspired others to step out of their comfort zones[/caption]
Retired sailor Ellen MacArthur topped the list of trailblazers[/caption]
Former athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill came second among the top 10 inspiring women[/caption]
While 10 per cent decided to step out of their comfort zone following the incredible achievements of Ellen MacArthur, the fastest person to solo circumnavigate the globe by sailboat.
Other women recognised for their positive impact include cyclist Laura Kenny (10 per cent), astronaut Sally Ride (10 per cent), and boxer Nicola Adams (nine per cent).
The research was commissioned by global technology brand OnePlus, which has teamed up with adventurer Elise Wortley for a historically accurate expedition retracing Dorothy Pilley’s footsteps across Corsica, with mountaineer Edurne Pasaban, and former Miss Finland turned explorer Lotta Hintsa.
It also emerged 64 per cent think the stories of pioneering women need to be told to help more embrace their inner explorer.
However, 53 per cent admit they couldn’t name a single female explorer, either real or fictional.
People were more likely to recognise Lara Croft (63 per cent) or even Dora the Explorer (59 per cent) than Jane Goodall (22 per cent).
While only nine per cent recognised the name Gertrude Bell, one of England’s premier archaeologists in the early 1900s.
And only three per cent – fewer than one in 20 – knew the name of Dorothy Pilley, a mountaineer who paved the way for female climbers.
Elise Wortley, who will be capturing the expedition on the OnePlus 13 device which is built for explorers, said: “Dorothy Pilley should be essential learning for all of us and the fact that this pioneering woman doesn’t feature in our history books and culture is truly devastating.
“This fascinating woman was one of the first female mountaineers and trailblazing adventurers, who inspired so many generations of women that came after her, yet, only three per cent of Brits can recognise her.
“I am as ready as ever to retrace her steps alongside Edurne and Lotta and we couldn’t be more excited to capture our journey through this expedition, bringing Dorothy Pilley’s incredible story to life and inspiring future generations to embrace adventure and exploration as she did.”
The findings, conducted via OnePoll, revealed 82 per cent were aware of the life and times of Charles Darwin, and 75 per cent knew the name of Marco Polo.
In fact, 84 per cent believe there’s too much of a male perception when it comes to discovery and exploration.
While 56 per cent would have liked to have learned more about female explorers in school, college or university.
Celina Shi, from OnePlus Europe, said: “It has never been more important to pay homage to the pioneering women that paved the way before us.
“There are so many fascinating expeditions led by women that still are forgotten, so we’re delighted to be working with Elise, Lotta and Edurne on this adventure.
“Being an explorer comes in so many shapes and forms, and we are excited to capture in a way that Dorothy Pilley wasn’t able to.”
Top 10 trailblazing women
1. Amelia Earhart – First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic
2. Jessica Ennis-Hill – Olympic heptathlon gold medalist
3. Greta Thunberg – Swedish environmental activist who sparked a global movement for climate action through her school strikes and passionate advocacy
4. Dorothy Pilley – Pioneering British mountaineer and writer who championed women’s climbing, co-founded the Pinnacle Club, and authored the influential memoir “Climbing Days” in 1935
5. Ellen MacArthur – Broke the record for fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe
6. Laura Kenny – Britain’s most decorated female Olympian in cycling
7. Sally Ride – First American woman in space who flew on two shuttle missions and later became a passionate advocate for science education, inspiring girls to pursue careers in STEM
8. Nicola Adams – First woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing
9. Mary Anning – Palaeontologist who made ground-breaking fossil discoveries
10. Gertrude Bell – Explorer and archaeologist who mapped parts of the Middle East
